Joan Rice at Riverside Studios

Joan Rice

Thanks to John Nelson for sending me this image of Joan Rice (1930-1997) - our Maid Marian. It was taken in the early 1950s at Riverside Studios in London, and it was here in 1945, that producer Sydney Box set up The Company of Youth for Rank Organisation. As a student of what became known as The Rank Charm School, Joan was given an allowance of £10 a week and trained in breathing, deportment, mime, accent correction, script reading, diction and rehearsing.

Among the many stars who attended this acting school were Petula Clark, Christopher Lee, Diana Dors, Joan Collins and Anthony Steele.

This blog has over 115 pages dedicated to the life and career of Joan Rice.

Splitting Arrows, Episode 14

"How in a fair and just world is this movie so under the radar? This movie was great ... it was really good. The performances are excellent, the costumes are great, the sets are lavish, and the matte paintings are well done."

These were just a few comments from Episode 14: Splitting Arrows - A Dedicated Lack of Foxes in Disney's Story of Robin Hood in 1952.

 

This is an available podcast that is part of a series of discussions on the various interpretations of the legend in movies and television down the years.  Episode 14, with Richard Hopkins-Luntz and Mike Nichols, is dedicated to The Story of Robin Hood. And my blog gets a special mention!

Not only do they give a link to my blog and Facebook Page, but they also discuss how I have uniquely delved deeply into every aspect of Disney's Story of Robin Hood in well over 800 posts. 

These podcasts can be found on YouTube, Spotify etc.

During the first few minutes of the podcast, they describe The Story of Robin Hood as "Walt Disney's unknown Robin Hood".

Hopefully, after Seventy-Two years, this wonderful film is finally getting the recognition it deserves. 

Thanks guys!

The Story of Robin Hood on TV

The Best Robin Hood Film Ever made (O.k. i'm Biased) is on tv in the uk today September 14th 2024 at 6:10 pm:

Talking Pictures TV Sky 328 Freeview 82 Freesat 306 Virgin 445

THE STORY OF ROBIN HOOD AND HIS MERRIE MEN (1952)

Director: Ken Annakin

Stars Richard Todd, Joan Rice & James Hayter

Saturday 14th September at 6:10pm

*Subtitles Available* on #TalkingPicturesTV

Alan-a-Dale's Dog

Elton Hayes as Alan-a-Dale with his dog

Throughout the movie, The Story of Robin Hood (1952), Alan-a-Dale played by Elton Hayes is followed by his faithful little dog, along the streets of Nottingham and through the winding paths of Sherwood Forest. By the end of the film, the minstrel and his loyal dog are in the outlaws' camp.  

To my knowledge, we never learn the little dog's name. But we do now!

Joan Rice with Alan-a-Dale's dog

On the back of a publicity photograph from the time of the films release, the name of the dog is revealed:

" RH-Pub-A8--JOAN RICE dressed as a page for her role as Maid Marian in "Robin Hood," makes friends with "Rusty." Rusty plays the part of Alan-a-Dale's (Elton Hayes) dog in the all-live-action Technicolor production, now being made by Walt Disney for RKO Radio."

So now we know!